There has been an increasing demand for our automation products, in conjunction with our gear machine offerings. For sure, even job-shop customers – as well as customers in low-cost labor countries – who did not in the past consider automation, are more-interested than ever. This is most-likely due to the overall global skilled labor shortage in manufacturing. For this reason, a close collaboration with our customers not only includes an automated system, but also the proper training and smart-factory solutions like Industry 4.0, to get started with these turn-key solutions from the onset of a new installation.
What is the state of your business regarding training and developing your skilled workforce internally and the state of finding skilled workers to join the organization?
Liebherr has invested heavily in our Training Center in Kempten, Germany, to formally train operators, technicians, as well as mechanical and electrical maintenance personnel, with both in-person and online formats. Our well-known apprenticeship program helps attracting talent – we are constantly adjusting the training content to the current and future needs.
How is your organization evolving when it comes to emerging technologies such as IIoT, additive manufacturing, electrification, etc.?
Extensive data is the key to optimizing production processes, and we from Liebherr have developed our own solution “LHWebPlatform,” for the various levels- of Industry 4.0 that our diverse set of customers have a need.
Our modular platform for digitization includes LHWebplatform, with live status of machine tools, as well a LHSignalInfo to visualize machine signals, and LHReportInfo for customizable analyses and reports of machine and process data. Please visit our website for a live demo of the LHWebPlatform in action! Here you can see our new App for networked production, in a factory setting.
LHWebplatform from Liebherr.
In terms of e-mobility, not only do we provide gear machine, automation, and inspection solutions for hobbing, shaping, skiving, and gear grinding – for the highest level of quality requirements in automotive, but also the innovative automation solutions for battery pack and cell assembly.
What role is sustainability and green manufacturing playing in your organization in 2023?
Since 1993, as the inventor of dry-hobbing, Liebherr has been a leader in the development of sustainability and eco-friendly production in the gear industry. Furthermore, one of our core values as a company is to accept responsibility for the impact we have on the environment. We aim at all times to fulfil our responsibility to society in general and to the environment. As a family-owned company active throughout the world, we carry considerable responsibility for society and the environment. We are convinced that we shall only achieve long-term success if we remain aware of this responsibility in all our activities. Protection of humanity and the environment is of special importance in our business activities. It means that our products and the processes used to manufacture them must be safe, efficient and environmentally acceptable.
Peter Wiedemann
Scott Yoders
